We’re so pleased to have author J. Scott Coatsworth and the Queer Sci Fi Renewal anthology tour joining us today. Scott’s here to chat about writing flash fiction.
Welcome, Scott!
Writing Good QSF Flash Fiction
Four years ago, I decided to start a flash fiction contest. Little did I know what I was getting myself into.
The first year was easy enough. We got fifteen entries, and Angel Martinez and I chose the winners between us. It took all of an hour.
Then year two came, and we got 115 entries. We bumped up our judges count, and soldiered on. It’s only gotten bigger since then: year three saw 170 entries, and year four bumped us up to 207.
Over that time, we’ve learned to spot a good speculative fiction flash story pretty quickly, and we’ve also figured out the most common mistakes that authors make. So for all those folks considering entering next year, here are some guidelines:
Don’t Send Us a Scene
A good flash fiction story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Unfortunately, we get a lot of scenes instead – 300 word snippets that seem to be ripped out of a larger story. Figure out the story you want to tell and give us the whole thing, not a piece of something else.
Every. Word. Counts.
A true flash fiction tale tells an entire story in an incredibly short amount of time. And micro fiction is even harder. Consider my favorite micro fiction story:
“For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.”
Boom, right there, we’ve got an entire story.
We give you a bit more leeway than that, but with just 300 words, every word counts. You can start with a longer piece. Winnow it down. Take out all the dross until you have a shiny gem of a story. It’s a marvelously clarifying exercise.
Make Sure It’s On Theme
Every year there are a few great stories that we can’t put in the book because we can’t find any evidence of that year’s theme. If the theme is dump trucks, don’t give us a zebra, unless one is either driving a dump truck, being run over by one, or IS a dump truck in some way, shape or form.
Make Sure it’s Queer
Same applies here. There are always a couple stories that we love that don’t have any appreciable queer content. If it doesn’t have queer characters or some other recognizable queer content, it’s not getting in the book.
Here are a few more tips:
—Don’t name the story the same name as the anthology
—Speaking of the title, give us something interesting. Not “Fantasy Story”
—Consider the most common likely uses of the theme, and then try something different
—While we love MM, 70% of what we get is MM. Try a different kind of character
—While we love sci fi, 60% of what we get is sci fi. Try fantasy, horror, or paranormal
So there you go. Follow these guidelines, and you just might be a part of next year’s book.
I hope you enjoy Renewal!
About the Anthology
Publisher: Mischief Corner Books
Author: Various – see Authors section below
Cover Artist: Gus Li
Length: 196 Pages
Format: eBook, Paperback
Release Date: 9/13/17
Pairing: Various – covers many pairings and identities
Price: 4.99, 16.99 paperback (b/w illus); 28.99 (color illus – avail 9/16)
Series: SF Flash Fiction Anthologies – Book Three
Genre: Sci Fi, Paranormal, Fantasy, Horror, Romance, Mainstream
Blurb: Re.new.al (noun)
1) Resuming an activity after an interruption, or
2) Extending a contract, subscription or license, or
3) Replacing or repairing something that is worn out,
run-down, or broken, or
4) Rebirth after death.
Four definitions to spark inspiration, a limitless number of stories to be conceived. Only 110 made the cut.
Thrilling to hopeful, Renewal features 300-word speculative fiction ficlets about sexual and gender minorities to entice readers.
Welcome to Renewal.
The Authors
‘Nathan Burgoine || A.M. Leibowitz || A.M. Soto || Abby Bartle || Aidee Ladnier || Alexis Woods || Andi Deacon || Andrea Felber Seligman || Andrea Speed || Andrea Stanet || Anne McPherson || Bey Deckard || Brigitte Winter || Carey Ford Compton || Carol Holland March || Carrie Pack || Catherine Lundoff || CB Lee || Christine Wright || Colton Aalto || Daniel Mitton || Dustin Blottenberger || Dustin Karpovich || E R Zhang || E.J. Russell || E.W. Murks || Ell Schulman || Ellery Jude || Eloreen Moon || Elsa M León || Emily Horner || Eric Alan Westfall || F.T. Lukens || Fenrir Cerebellion || Foster Bridget Cassidy || Ginger Streusel || Hannah Henry || Irene Preston || J. Alan Veerkamp || J. P. Egry || J. Summerset || J.S. Fields || Jaap Boekestein || Jackie Keswick || Jana Denardo || Jeff Baker || Jenn Burke || Joe Baumann || John Moralee || Jon Keys || Jude Dunn || K.C. Faelan || Kelly Haworth || Kiterie Aine || Kristen Lee || L M Somerton || L. Brian Carroll || L.M. Brown || L.V. Lloyd || Laurie Treacy || Leigh M. Lorien || Lex Chase || Lia Harding || Lin Kelly || Lloyd A. Meeker || Lyda Morehouse || M.D. Grimm || Martha J. Allard || Mary E. Lowd || Matt Doyle || Matthew Bright || Mia Koutras || Michelle Browne || Milo Owen || Mindy Leana Shuman || Naomi Tajedler || Natsuya Uesugi || Nephy Hart || Nicole Dennis || Ofelia Gränd || Patricia Scott || Paul Stevens || PW Covington || R R Angell || R.L. Merrill || Rebecca Cohen || Redfern Jon Barrett || Reni Kieffer || Richard Amos || RL Mosswood || Robyn Walker || Rory Ni Coileain || Rose Blackthorn || Ross Common || S R Jones || Sacchi Green || Sarah Einstein || Shilo Quetchenbach || Siri Paulson || Soren Summers || Stephanie Shaffer || Steve Fuson || Tam Ames || Terry Poole || Tray Ellis || Vivien Dean || Wendy Rathbone || Xenia Melzer || Zen DiPietro || Zev de Valera
The Buy Links
Mischief Corner Books || Amazon (Kindle & Print) || Kobo || 24 Symbols || Playster
Tour-wide Excerpts
Because these stories are only 300 words each, we’re not supplying long excerpts, but here are the first lines of several of the stories. Enjoy!
“Griselda pulled the weeds from between the rows of Valerianella locusta plants in the garden, careful not to disturb the buds that would grow into the babies that were her only real income-producing crop.” —The Witches’ Garden, by Rie Sheridan Rose
“I didn’t know how truly the world was in trouble until I went journeying to look for Anisette’s bluebonnets.” —Bluebonnets, by Emily Horner
“The ship’s drive malfunctioned at the worst possible time.” —The Return, by Andrea Speed
“Before we continue, there’s a rather macabre fact about me I should share.” —Rejuvenation, by Christine Wright
“When I died they buried me at the bottom of the garden and returned to the fields.” —Below the Hill, by Matthew Bright
“The world is ending and I can’t look away from your eyes.” —Sunrise, by Brigitte Winter
““Losing one’s superpowers to your arch nemesis sucks donkey nuts, I tell ya. And trust me when I say I suck a lot of them.” —Rainbow Powers, by Dustin Karpovich
“The day I was born again was damp, rainy—a good day for rebirth, all things considered.” —The Birthing Pod, by Michelle Browne
“Intwir’s twelve eyes roved over the container, taking in the cracked outer lock and the elasticated fabric stretched tightly over its exterior.” —In a Bind, by S R Jones
“‘You’ve reached Androgyne HelpLine. Press one to start service. Press two to interrupt or cancel service. Press three—’” —Auto-Renew, by Ginger Streusel
“The doctor tells me that my wife is dying, but I already know.” —I Will Be Your Shelter, by Carey Ford Compton
“‘San Francisco was the first to go dark, followed by Los Angeles.’” —When Light Left, by Lex Chase
“My fingers lingered on the synthetic skin, trailing soft patterns across my work.” —Miss You, by Stephanie Shaffer
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